8A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, March 24, 2005 Blue banking on home advantage. FOR EST CASEY/Daily Senior Elise Ray is ranked third in the all-around heading into the Big Ten Championships. Tumblers look for seventh straight titl By Sara Livingston Daily Sports Writer With a little extra bounce in its step and enthusiasm in its voice, the No. 5 Michi- gan men's gymnastics team kicked off its final week of practice before hosting the Big Ten Championships tomorrow and Saturday at Crisler Arena. The Wolverines - who have struggled all year on the road (0-5 in away meets) - are looking forward to an extra boost from the home crowd to give them the edge they need to come out victorious. Michigan has never lost at home this sea- son. And, while the championships are held in Crisler instead of the Cliff Keen Arena, the gymnasts know, as long as they are in their hometown, it doesn't matter where they are playing. "Having the Big Tens at home will help us tremendously," junior Gerry Signorelli said. "Even though it's in a different arena, we still know the same people are going to be there watching us, and we will hear them screaming, and that will help us along." Coach Kurt Golder is confident that his team will leave it all on the mats and bring flawless routines out to every apparatus, but he knows the other schools will do the same. "I think everyone will really step up," Golder said. "I just think it's a matter of if we are good enough when we all hit. I think there are a couple of teams in the Big Ten that are better then us - not by a lot though. But I think we have a great competition to bring." The Wolverines know every single tenth of a point will count, and the slight- est slip up could cause them several spots in the final tally. Inevitably, the burden of perfection will fall on the all-around gym- nasts - most likely junior Justin Laury and senior captain Geoff Corrigan. They will be competing in most events and will need to set high scores to allow the lower ones to get cut. "Everyone is really trying to work on their execution and keeping form," sophomore Andre Hernandez said. "At Big Tens, every point matters, and every little thing can affect the final standings." Despite Michigan's past struggles on pommel horse, Golder is certain the team's dynamic and burning desire to win will force it to clean up its routines and prevent the pos- sibility of a disappointing weekend in Ann Arbor. "Between the home crowds and our strengths as a championship team, we should rock this weekend," Golder said. "If we don't, we won't have the outcome that we want. It's very, very close. One mistake and it can cost us a couple of spots." Statistically, Michigan's toughest oppo- nents will be No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Illinois. While the Wolverines haven't seen Illinois since the Fighting Illini won the Windy City Invitational in January, the team's most recent loss came at the hands of the Buckeyes on March 13. But, the Wolverines feel their biggest competition will come from within - the team will have to remain focused and confident throughout the weekend to insure success. "I think it's just about us being men- tally tough and being able to fight through everything," senior Eddie Umphrey said. TONY DING/Daily Senior Geoff Corrigan will be on of five Michigan seniors searching for their first Big Ten Championship this weekend at Crisler Arena. By Katie Niemeyer Daily Sports Writer The Michigan women's gymnastics team will compete in the Big Ten Champi- onships on Saturday at the Carver-Hawk- eye Arena in Iowa City. The Wolverines (16-2 overall, 7-0 Big Ten) are looking for- ward to the start of this year's postseason. "This is the first and most important thing in our postseason," Michigan coach Bev Plocki said. "We are really excited about it, and we hope to come out with another win." No. 7 Michigan - who is also first in the Big Ten - has faced five out of six of its Big Ten competitors already this season and remains undefeated in those meets. The Wolverines have not yet faced Illinois, the sixth-place team in the Big Ten. Only one team in the Big Ten - No. 11 Penn State - has earned a high score that surpasses the Wolverines' average score (196.595) this season. Michigan defeated Penn State at Crisler Arena on Jan. 21, 196.075-194.550. "I think that Penn State is the team this year that's going to really challenge us the most," Plocki said. "Although, Michigan State and Minnesota are teams that are playing it consistent, and, if we don't do ourjob, they can certainly be in the mix." Michigan's three all-around gymnasts -junior Jenny Deiley, sophomore Lind- sey Bruck and senior Elise Ray - are No. 1, 2 and 3 in the conference, respec- tively. But both No. 4 Laura Johnson of Minnesota and No. 5 Meredith Hoover of Penn State have the ability to put up scores above 39.000. Michigan will enter the Big Ten Cham- pionship with a major advantage - they are a top-10 nationally ranked team with the most talent any team brings to the floor in the Big Ten. Barring a collapse, the Wolverines are almost assured to win another Big Ten Championship. They have to stay focused and rely on every member of the team to compete to her ability, but Plocki doesn't foresee any problems. "We had a great week in practice' Plocki said. "I think the kids are really excited about going into this weekend, and we're looking forward to a great meet.: Michigan has performed consistently so far this season, except for one meet against Georgia on March 11, which they lost 197.000-194.875. The Wolverines could easily run away with the Big Ten title for the seventh straight year. Not only is Michigan ranked first in the all-around and on every event, it has two Wolverines in three of the four individual events and has a gymnast ranked first in three events. "I just want to go into the University of Iowa with a great attitude, the team hav- ing a great attitude and to go out there with a lot of enthusiasm - and perform the way we're capable of performing," Plocki said. "And if we do that, I think we'll come out very pleased with our performance and with another Big Ten Championship." "It's just a matter of getting mentally tough on an event and just fighting through and getting the job done." For the seniors, winning the Big Ten Championships would be their way of jus- tifying why they do what they do, every- day. From the hours of icing sore muscles, to early morning weight training sessions, to surgery after surgery, one championship would make all of that dedication to the sport they love worth it to the gymnasts. "Right now it's everything - it's four years of work, injury and pain and every- thing that I have gone through," Corrigan said. "It would just be a justification for all of that, and this is why I have been put- ting my body through so much pain." The Wolverines haven't won a Big Ten Championship since 1999, and the seniors are eager to taste a conference title for the first time. While many of the gymnasts have won individual Big Ten titles in vari- ous events, they unanimously feel that nothing compares to winning the confer- ence alongside their teammates. "The ultimate thing would be to come out and win and be the Big Ten Cham- pions, especially here in Ann Arbor," Umphrey said. "Being my senior year, this is it for me. I don't have any rings and nothing to show for my time here in Ann Arbor. I just have a couple medals from here and there but I want the real thing. I want the Big Ten Championship ring." I 0 WOMEN'S GOLF Weather can't alter practice schedule By Michael Roarty For the Daily Michigan winter weather can make anyone feel down - especially when it is still snowing in March. But the women's golf team doesn't let bad weather slow it down, even if the snow might change its schedule now and then. This week, the team travels to Boerne, Texas to play in the Baylor Tapatio Springs Shootout. Michigan hopes to keep up the recent success it has had early in the spring season. In their first three tournaments, the Wolverines finished fifth, first and fourth out of at least 15 teams each time. In Texas, they will face many opponents that enjoy better weather for golfing all year round. "Michigan weather is a disadvantage, but it's to be expected, coming to a cold place like Michi- gan," Michigan freshmen Rose Cassard said. "However, we work hard during the winter months and are very motivated because we each want to play and help us win." Ten of the 11 golfers come from cold climates, so winter is something that their golf games have dealt with before. During the winter months, the team can't play at the University golf course, but it does have other ways of trying to keep its game sharp. Even though the Wolverines can't play an actual 18- hole golf course, they use the Oosterbaan Field- house to work on their shots from 76 yards or less. The team also uses the basement of the club- house at the University golf course to practice. "The team can use a miniature nine-hole course to work on their chipping and putting," freshman Lindsay Davis said. "Also, there is a mat in which we can hit full shots into a net and make sure our trajectory is good." Although they do have access to a mat indoors, coach Kathy Teichert won't let Michigan stay indoors when it gets a little cold or even snows. "Even though we have a mat, we usually hit golf balls at the University course driving range in most every type of weather," Davis said. "We have been out there when it is pouring rain, freez- ing wind and even when it is snowing. The only thing that we are not allowed to practice in is .when there is lightning." Sometimes the team will also visit Miles of Golf in Ypsilanti. This facility is outdoors but has heated shelters so that the golfers are not as both- ered by the weather. Judging by their recent success, the Wolver- ines haven't let the weather get to them. The team has been able to compete with most major universities, regardless of geographical location, and they hope to continue to be successful this weekend. 'M' hopes to rebound at Furman By Kevin Anderson For the Daily In last year's Furman Intercollegiate, the Michigan men's golf team came through with one of its top performances of the season, taking third place out of 20 squads. This year, the Wolverines are hop- ing to repeat their performance in the same tournament this weekend and turn around what has been a difficult spring. Michigan finished a disappointing eighth out of 12 teams in its last tournament, the Conrad Rehling Invitational in Tuscaloosa, Ala. "We have struggled lately," Michi- gan coach Andrew Sapp said. "I was a little bit surprised and disappointed that we struggled so much coming out of spring break in Puerto Rico. (The Conrad Rehling Invitational) was a tournament that I thought we should have been top-five in, but we didn't play very well. I was shocked that our guys struggled so much." In spite of the Wolverines' struggles so far this spring, the team remains optimistic heading into this weekend's tournament. "I think it gives the guys confidence, knowing that this is a tournament that we have done well in before," Sapp said. "It helps just to be familiar with the course and know that you have played well on it before." Because the Furman University Golf Course, at 6,800 yards, plays relatively short, the Wolverines have focused on their short games in practice this week. Sapp said that a large part of Mon- day and Tuesday's practices would be devoted to shooting wedge shots of less than 100 yards. "It isn't a very long course," Sapp said. "So if you can hit your drives straight and hit some good wedge shots, it gives you the opportunity to shoot some very low scores." While playing well inside of 100 yards, will be important for Michigan, it is just as critical that players who have struggled lately return to form. "I think, when you are in a slump, a lot of times it's partly a confidence thing," Sapp said. "I also think a lot of times the way to break out of a slump is to get out there and just shoot your way out of it, like a basketball player. That's tough when we can't even practice out- side on our home course yet." It should help thatjunior Christian Vozza appeared to break out of his own personal slump by firing a final-round score of 68 in Alabama. Sapp identified Vozza and senior Rob Tighe as two Wolverines with the potential to finish first individually at the Furman Intercollegiate. "Tighe has been very steady for us this spring, and that has been huge for us," Sapp said. "He has been very consistent and hasn't shot any high numbers, so he's someone who, if he plays well, will have a chance to win this tournament. Chris- tian should be confident because he had a TONY DING/Daily Senior Rob Tighe will be shooting for the top at the Furman Intercollegiate. chance to win this tournament last year and he's coming off a really good last round." The Furman Intercollegiate will run tomorrow through Sunday with par set at 72. This year's edition will include 19 teams, almost all of them hailing from the south. "It's tough going against all these schools from South Carolina and Geor- gia who can practice at their own courses already," Sapp said. 0 0 0 hlisto[y - at UistinUuishleU. overIseas scnis.USoaK up Lte